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4 Houston Texans trade targets after Stefon Diggs is placed on IR


4 Houston Texans trade targets after Stefon Diggs is placed on IR

The Houston Texans have reportedly placed superstar wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on Sunday, on injured reserve. Dianna Russini of The Athletic broke the news on Tuesday, noting that it was a non-contact injury that ended Diggs' 2024 season. With Diggs now out for the season, the Texans need to think about bolstering their championship-quality roster for the second half.

Nico Collins is also currently out of action until at least Week 10, meaning the Texans are extremely thin at this critical position.

The NFL trade deadline is right around the corner, November 5th at 4 p.m. ET. Houston has little time left to identify trade targets and work the phones to get a deal done.

With that in mind, here's a look at a handful of wide receivers the Texans should trade before next Tuesday's deadline.

Higgins Cincinnati Bengals T-Shirt

There is no doubt that Tee Higgins and the Bengals have a frosty business relationship. The 25-year-old former second-round pick out of Clemson requested a trade in March and was upset with contract negotiations throughout the offseason. Ultimately, he signed the franchise tag rather than hold out.

A quadriceps injury prevented Higgins from playing in the Bengals' Week 8 game, and he is currently considered “day-ready” according to head coach Zac Taylor. Players must pass a physical exam before a trade can be completed, so this injury could potentially hinder the Higgins trade.

However, if this is not the case, the Texans should consider a deal with Higgins. He is extremely effective when healthy and is a major threat in the red zone. In four-plus seasons with the Bengals, Higgins has recorded 286 catches for 4,025 yards and 27 touchdowns.

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

In terms of value, Darius Slayton brings a lot to the table. The veteran receiver is in the final year of a two-year, $12 million contract, and the Texans really don't need to make more than a one-year rental at this point considering they currently have a wide receiver, albeit injured.

Slayton is one of the better deep threats in the NFL, averaging an impressive 14.5 yards per reception since entering the league as a fifth-rounder out of Auburn in 2019. He has also been a spark for a Giants offense that often needs one, catching 29 passes for 420 yards and 1 touchdown this season.

Texas quarterback CJ Stroud loves to push the ball downfield. Having Slayton in his arsenal could be a huge boost.

Mike Williams, New York Jets

Mike Williams is currently on track with Aaron Rodgers and is certainly eager to get a fresh start somewhere else. Anywhere, even. It's no surprise that Williams is being mentioned as a potential trade target by NFL insiders like Adam Schefter and many others.

Williams was barely used in New York and caught just 11 passes for 160 yards. Like Slayton, he would be on a one-year loan, having signed a one-year deal with the Jets prior to the 2024 NFL season.

Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams

It seems almost inconceivable that the Rams would consider trading Cooper Kupp. He has been and continues to be one of the NFL's best wide receivers since he burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2017.

This season, however, rumors of a move have found him.

And if Kupp is available, the Texans absolutely need to try to sign him. At 6-2 almost halfway through the 2024 season, Houston has legitimate championship aspirations. Its defense is one of the best in the league, and with Stroud leading an offense that has a dynamic rushing game thanks to Joe Mixon, it's not too early to start thinking about Super Bowl or bust.

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